Key Takeaways
- Only 51% of Pakistan’s population has access to clean cooking facilities.
- Experts call for stronger policies and incentives to reduce dependence on imported gas and firewood.
- Pakistan’s solar capacity and surplus electricity offer opportunities for electric cooking transition.
Energy experts have urged the government of Pakistan to promote the use of affordable electric stoves and local manufacturing to enhance access to clean cooking facilities, currently available to only 51% of the population.
The call came during a national consultation jointly organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA), where experts highlighted the benefits of transitioning to electric cooking.
NEECA Joint Director Dr Jamsheed Ali pointed out that Pakistan lags behind regional countries like India, where clean cooking access exceeds 80%, and Bhutan, where it reaches 92.8%. He emphasized the need for stronger policies, financing mechanisms, and better institutional coordination.
SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri highlighted the harmful effects of biomass use, particularly on rural households, especially women and children, and the ongoing gas shortages in urban areas. He advocated for winter electricity incentives and encouraged local production of affordable electric stoves.
UNESCAP’s Fadia Ahmadi noted the link between household air pollution and approximately 2.9 million premature deaths annually worldwide, underscoring the urgency of the issue.
Alicia Butterfield of the Global Electric Cooking Coalition stated that Pakistan’s estimated 50 gigawatts of solar capacity could support a large-scale shift towards electric cooking, providing a significant opportunity for the country.
Experts also stressed the importance of affordable appliances, consumer awareness, and government incentives to make clean cooking accessible nationwide.
The consultation aimed to explore ways to leverage Pakistan’s expanding solar capacity and surplus electricity to accelerate the transition to electric cooking, thereby reducing dependence on imported gas and firewood.
Pakistan lagged behind regional countries, with clean cooking access exceeding 80 percent in India and reaching 92.8 percent in Bhutan.
Dr Jamsheed Ali, NEECA Joint Director
He urged the government to introduce winter electricity incentives and encourage local production of affordable electric stoves.
Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, SDPI Executive Director
